Industry Liabilities

INDUSTRY LIABILITIES

NaTasha Harris

The first article I read I chuckled a bit….Sisters Sue Reality Show for Filmed Attack. Yes you guess it Oxygen’s Bad Girls Club. Apparently twin sisters Amanda and Victoria Hepperle never had seen an episode of Bad Girls Club. These twins were “replaceable” and when they arrived to the house an orchestrated attack took place. According to the twins they believe producers of the show planned this attack for more ratings and advertising. Rather or not if I agree with that statement I am 100% against bullying and if these young ladies felt unsafe at any moment someone should pay. However, the sisters maybe embarrassed this scuffle took place before they could the lime light.

Singer Kesha recently lost her lawsuit in NY trying to be released from her current contract. Kesha made allegations of rape and abuse against her music producer Dr. Luke.  Now this case was thrown out because according to the judge if indeed these acts of rape and sexual abuse happened it wasn’t in NY’s jurisdiction. This unlawful act reportable occurred over a decade ago some may question the timing of this lawsuit and have questions that need to be answered like you didn’t remember this ungodly act against you when you first endorsed the contract?

Custom arrangement license, grand right license and mechanical licenses are just a few legal knots you must tie before you sing a popular song at your school’s choir concert. A high school choir got sued for stealing music, the real life choir that inspired the TV show Glee.  I guess it makes sense if you make money by using someone else’s music then you should pay to you it. For God’s sakes they are kids just trying to have a good time.

References:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/high-school-show-choir-inspired-907881

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/04/08/kesha-losing-her-music-career-along-with-court-cases.html

http://www.entlawdigest.com/2016/06/14/4267.htm

GEDO

I had the pleasure of interviewing an up and coming me artist Gedo. Gedo is a rapper from Chicago trying to bring inspiration lyrics to his hometown. The first question I asked Joe Levy was what does his stage name means and he explained this was just a childhood nickname and his father has the same nick mane as well.

Tasha: Gedo because the music industry is cut throat how do you deal with people’s dirty tricks?

Gedo: that’s funny because I was just in a situation where I was recommended an editor to edit my latest music video but to my surprise he was a scam artist. I had my lawyer draw up an agreement for my  three projects but this editor refused to read and endorse anything. He wanted me to pay him up front for all three music videos but when I told him I had a legal contract he disappeared. LOL!

Tasha: How do you separate people from problems when you are negotiating?

Gedo: look, this is a business and everyone involved is looking out for himself or herself. In this rap game there is no room for personal emotional feelings. This is a game and you have to learn all the moves to became a master. I would not allow myself to emotionally make a decision you have to learn how to separate. It’s like why I don’t do business with family. I can only look at the person for there creative ability not how that person my relate to me. You can’t take anything personal in this industry and I’m afraid most people haven’t mastered that skill. Let me be clear this is a skill that’s not taught in school, this is a life skill.

Tasha: give me an example of how you worked toward a mutual benefit while negotiating a deal?

Gedo: my former manger didn’t have tons of experience but his networking relationships were amazing. This kid knew just about every rapper that came from Chicago. I was iffy to sign with him but I knew we could be great for each other. We both were in the learning process so we learned and worked together. The mutual benefit was we needed each other at that time to both succeed. So I was able to but his lack of experience aside for his strong emotion to become successful. We were a great team. We both were hungry. He is no longer my manger but I wish him the best of luck.

 To view a sample of GEDO click here https://youtu.be/BKXELBgNjL8

Media vs. Chicago

The Media Vs. Chicago

There is no secret the city of Chicago has been the topic of several people’s conversations. Chicago has been center of attention for quite some time now starting with the shooting of Hadiya Pendleton, a young teen who preformed at the White House with her classmates. You can just image how the press ate this up giving the fact that our President is from Chicago. Since 2013 numerous of killings and unsolved murders have arise so much that now Hollywood is making a dollar form the tragedies of Chicago. 

Spike Lee created a film called CHI-RAQ that sent most of Chicagoans in an uproar including myself. Spike Lee in my opinion and the opinions of others did not represent Chicago in good way. Yes there are some really rough neighborhoods in Chicago but aren’t there many rough neighborhoods worldwide. Chicago is not the dump he portrayed it to be. We have mansion, and many well-known rich and famous people who still live here. Just to name a few Common, Kanye West, Harrison Ford, Michelle and Barack Obama.

The latest movie that reference Chicago is Barbershop the Next Cut. This movie is the complete opposite from Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq, this movie actually point out some good things of Chicago. This movie is trying to share awareness with the rest of the world that yes, Chicago may be in crisis and need help but there are still some good people in Chicago. The first Barbershop movie was filmed twelve years ago and despite the violence they still chose to make another movie and keep this film based in Chicago. This film can be considered a comedy but it really focused on the “real” issues of Chicago. This movie is a must see if you want to get a view of how Chicago really is.

Cliche TV Roles

Because we live in such a diverse world who like to throw the race card around I decided this post will be about just that. Minioritoes in TV. When I become a TV producer I want to create a something that's never been done before on TV. For instance the TV show scandal created by SHonda Rhimes is brilliant! Not only is the leading woman role played by an African American her she powerful, not only because she's aleeping with the president of America but she runs her own law firm that "fix" all problems. So this in my eyes is something I would like to watch on tv not your average cliche minorties roles. I personally don't want to see a black or Mexican woman single, with three kids, working two jobs living in a low income housing. I want to watch something or someone I can admire. Someone who has some power.  I think the producers and networks that get this get it!! Let's go back 80's when Dynasty was a hit the leading Afrian America woman role was played by Diane Carol. She was rich, smart, sassy and powerful. So this role I'm speaking of does exist we just have to make it more relevant. Nothing against single moms who are struggling trying to provide for their kids but that's getting boring. Show me something I want to be not that I am!!

Read and Sleep with Ease

Lately I have been using Trip Advisor to gather information on hotels and vacation rentals. Trip Advisor is full of useful information in spite of them may not having the lowest fares. You get to view the entire hotels inside and out and some have three sixty-degree videos. These pictures and videos allow you to get on an intimate level with your place of choice. The most wonderful feature, you get to read all the reviews from customers who have stayed there. Good and bad reviews.  Buy just reading a review or two it can make your mind up or change your mind on rather to stay there or not.  This website is beneficial to me because as a producer I will have to travel and no one wants to be uncomfortable rather your traveling for business or personal leisure.

This website also have a questions and answers section and if your always on the go like me, yes, there is an AP you can download to your cellphone or tablet.  Here are some pictures of a not so good hotels with reviews and pictures.

There are several website that offers reviews but this website is my favoriate. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. Please visit www.tripadvisor.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186332-d586529-Reviews-The_Golden_Beach_Hotel-Blackpool_Lancashire_England.html#photos;geo=186332&detail=586529&ff=152865341&albumViewMode=hero&albumid=101&baseMediaId=152865341&thumbnailMinWidth=50&cnt=30&offset=-4&filter=2

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147313-d155507-Reviews-The_SPA_Retreat_Boutique_Hotel-Negril_Westmoreland_Parish_Jamaica.html

Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Unconscious biasis was the lesson in the TED interview held by Yassmin Abdel-Magied. The name of her lecture was what does my headscarf means to you?

I enjoyed this piece because Yassmin and myself share some of the same prejudices.

I wear several hats and I can adapt to all environments and have been judge by my mere appearance.

Because I am African American lady who has grown up in one of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods when people find out where I am from they look at me differently. It doesn’t matter that I am not a product of my environment nor that I hold a executive position and my company or even that I’m educated I’m instantly judge on where I am from.

I dress how I want to dress not how this society says I should dress, someone may look at me one day and mumble “she’s dressed like a boy” but who cares if I’m on my way to home depot to purchase supplies for a home improvement project. Or “look at her” she has way to much cleavage showing, or why is her hair like that?

If someone actually took the time to have a conversation with me they would be surprised. I can change a tire, paint a car and change my own oil in my car all whilst I have a perfect manicure. Why are people so surprised about my skills once they know me?

Structural change takes time so we need t change the world one person at a time. Yassmin thinks it’s a good idea if we mentor someone different. Mentoring someone different will allows all parties to learn about each other with out biases opinions. We are at the point in society where this does exist there is no way around it but we have to move past it.